I? 


Yuan  Shi  Kai 


THE  POLITICAL  SITUATION 

The  Rev.  Stanley  White,  D.D. 

No  one  can  grasp  the  political  situation  in  China 
without  realizing  its  relation  to  the  marvelous  trans- 
formation that  IS  going  on  in  that  great  nation.  The 
birth  of  a Great  Republic  is  a momentous  event. 
The  unrest  and  revolution  represent  the  intense 
growing  pains  of  a suddenly  maturing  giant. 

During  a recent  trip  in  the  East  it  was  my  priv- 
ilege to  be  brought  into  close  contact  with  some  of 
the  leaders  of  the  so-called  revolutionary  party,  and 
no  one  could  talk  with  them  without  believing  that 
their  underlying  purpose  is  absolutely  a sincere  one. 
Naturally  they  will  make  mistakes,  but  they  are 
mistakes  of  immaturity  rather  than  of  their  motive 
or  ideal.  They  are  sincere  men  who  are  endeavor- 
ing to  plan  for  the  welfare  of  China.  The  diffi- 
culties lie  in  the  attempt  to  establish  the  Republic 
on  a basis  of  Western  ethics  at  a time  when  the 
nation  at  large  has  not  as  yet  escaped  from  the  old 
and  drastic  methods  of  one  of  the  most  complete 
monarchial  systems  that  the  world  has  known.  To 
expect  a nation  whose  previous  governmental  sys- 
tem has  been  a network  of  graft  to  suddenly  yield 
to  methods  of  unselfishness  and  patriotism  untouched 
by  lower  motives  is  almost  impossible. 

The  strength  of  Yuan  Shi  Kai  lies  in  the  fact 
that  he  is  a connecting  link  between  the  old  and 
the  new.  From  the  practical  point  of  view,  China 
for  the  time  being  must  have  at  her  helm  a man 
who  can  use  both  methods:  On  the  one  hand  he 
must  deal  with  those  who  know  no  authority  but  the 
sword,  and  who  can  only  be  controlled  by  the  fear 
that  they  may  lose  their  heads,  and  on  the  other, 
he  must  be  able  to  command  the  confidence  of  the 
progressive  element  of  China.  Yuan  may  be  more 
or  less  of  a time-server,  and  his  motives  may  be  in 
a measure  subterranean,  but  he  has  the  power  of 
leadership  at  the  present  moment.  The  situation 
might  be  summed  up  by  saying  that  Sun  Yat  Sen 
has  the  vision  without  the  ability  to  make  it  a 
reality,  and  Yuan  Shi  Kai  has  the  ability  without 
the  vision. 


1 


It  was  my  privilege  to  be  present  at  an  afternoon 
session  of  the  new  Parliament  in  China.  Though 
I could  not  understand  what  was  said,  it  seemed  to 
me  that  some  great  State  question  was  being  de- 
cided. It  would  hardly  seem  that  the  excitement 
which  was  manifested  could  be  accounted  for  on 
any  other  ground.  The  body  was  composed  largely 
of  young  men.  There  were  only  two  queues  in  the 
whole  Assembly,  and  very  few  gray  hairs.  A large 
proportion  of  the  members  were  dressed  in  Euro- 
pean costume.  Gradually  the  excitement  increased, 
many  men  being  on  their  feet  at  the  same  time, 
shouting  for  recognition  and  pounding  on  a desk 
with  their  fists,  which  is  m China  considered  the 
greatest  discourtesy.  Presently  the  Speaker,  having 
lost  control  of  the  House,  escaped  from  the  dilemma 
by  leaving  the  building.  Instantly  one  of  the  mem- 
bers essayed  to  take  his  place,  when  two  others 
grasped  him  by  tbe  arms  and  dragged  him  down. 
Within  a few  moments  that  session  of  the  Parlia- 
ment broke  up  and  all  left  the  building. 

The  next  day  I discovered  by  the  English  paper 
that  the  great  state  question  was  what  punishment 
should  be  meted  out  to  a member  who  on  the  day 
previous  had  thrown  an  ink  bottle  at  a fellow 
member. 

With  China’s  vital  affairs  in  the  hands  of  a body 
as  untried  and  inexperienced  as  this,  one  can  real- 
ize the  seriousness  of  the  problem  that  is  before 
her,  and  the  necessity  of  a strong  hand  at  the  helm. 
These  men  were  intensely  in  earnest  but  their 
patriotism  was  imperiled  because  of  their  youthful 
impulsiveness. 

The  question  is  often  asked  as  to  the  possibility 
of  China's  again  returning  to  the  Monarchial  form 
of  government  with  Yuan  or  some  other  man  of 
the  old  regime  at  its  head.  Humanly  speaking  this 
would  not  seem  possible.  China  is  wide  awake  to 
her  future  possibilities.  If  such  an  attempt  were  to 
be  made  it  would  start  a blaze  of  protest  that  would 
endanger  the  integrity  of  the  Republic.  Even  should 
China  attempt  to  recede  from  her  present  Republi- 
can form  of  government  I believe  it  would  be  but 
temporary.  One  feels  the  new  life  stirring  every- 


2 


where.  The  air  is  tingling  with  it.  Not  only  in 
her  assemblies  but  in  her  bazaars  one  recognizes  the 
new  sense  of  freedom  and  power.  The  coolie  with 
his  wheelbarrow  does  not  turn  aside  to  avoid  col- 
lision with  the  foreigner.  He  shouts  his  warning, 
and  if  his  shout  is  unheeded,  the  foreigners’  toes  are 
likely  to  suffer.  It  is  a question  whether  China  as  a 
whole  either  understands  or  is  competent  for,  the 
responsibilities  of  a Republic — but  that  she  has 
caught  the  vision  and  is  determined  to  turn  it  into 
reality  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

The  leaders  of  China  are  also  fully  alive  to  the 
fact  that  the  eyes  of  Powers  not  necessarily  friendly 
or  unselfish  are  watching  to  take  advantage  of  the 
moment  of  her  weakness.  Her  safety  lies  in  her 
unity  and  solidity.  Knowing  this  fact  the  present 
leaders  are  not  likely  to  press  any  advantage  they 
have  for  their  own  personal  aggrandizement  to  the 
extent  of  setting  up  a monarchy.  The  throne  they 
erected  would  stand  on  volcanic  ground  and  would 
begin  to  tremble  as  soon  as  it  was  erected.  The 
part  of  the  friend  of  China  is  to  believe  in  her,  to 
trust  her,  to  treat  her  as  a nation  to  be  respected  and 
honored.  As  one  who  was  in  China  when  the 
United  States  gave  her  recognition  and  who  was 
stirred  by  the  sight  of  the  American  and  Chinese 
flags  flying  from  the  same  flagstaffs — and  who  felt 
the  response  from  Chinese  both  high  and  low,  there 
is  little  doubt  in  my  mind  that  China  will  win  her 
battles  with  herself,  maintain  her  dignity  among  the 
nations  and  some  day  in  all  probability  contribute 
a large  share  to  the  world’s  welfare. 

CHINA’S  RESPONSE  TO  THE  CALL 
FOR  PRAYER 

NAN  HSU  CHOW: 

Rev.  Geo.  C.  Hood  writes:  “You  will  be  inter- 
ested to  know  how  we  observed  the  day  of  prayer 
for  China,  April  27,  1913,  in  this  new  Station  where 
work  has  been  opened  for  little  over  a year  and  where 
the  foreigners  have  not  yet  taken  up  their  residence. 
On  Saturday  the  City  Magistrate  called  and  asked 
us  to  conduct  a prayer  service  in  Nan  Hsu  Chow. 


3 


The  request  came  from  Peking  officially  through  the 
Provincial  Governor  and  the  Hsien  Gwan.  It  is 
significant  to  note  that  the  official  did  not  go  to  the 
Catholics  who  have  been  established  here  for  a 
number  of  years.  When  we  personally  asked  the 
Catholic  priest  to  attend  this  service  he  said  that  he 
would  gladly  do  so,  but  he  was  afraid  his  superiors 
would  not  contenance  his  worshipping  with  Protest- 
ants. It  is  too  bad  that  we  who  worship  our  Heaven- 
ly Father  could  not  pray  together  for  this  great 

nation.  The  Buddhist  priests  were  invited  by  the 
official  and  also  by  ourselves,  and  they  attended. 

"Our  school  IS  too  small  for  such  a public  service, 
and  inasmuch  as  it  was  at  the  request  of  the  city 
magistrate,  we  decided  it  would  be  all  right  to  use 
the  Temple  of  the  God  of  War.  I cannot  imagine 
a more  dignified,  quiet  and  orderly  service  being  con- 
ducted anywhere  in  the  world  than  was  held 

in  this  temple,  and  in  a city  where  our  work 

IS  scarcely  established  with  an  audience  of  over  200 
sitting  and  many  standing  in  the  large  open  door. 
Three  of  the  city  schools  were  represented,  so  no 
small  part  of  the  audience  were  small  boys.  In  the 
entire  audience  there  were  less  than  a dozen  con- 
fessed Christians,  counting  ourselves  and  helpers. 

"Everything  was  done  with  the  greatest  simplicity 
and  with  clear  explanation,  so  all  could  follow.  Our 
schools  sang  two  patriotic  hymns  and  two  with  the 
audiences, — one  of  these  was  written  for  the  occa- 
sion by  our  teacher.  The  Principal  of  the  Govern- 
ment Schools  in  the  City  read  the  President’s  call 
for  prayer  and  explained  each  request.  Mr.  Carter 
gave  a short  talk  based  on  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  after 
which  we  all  united  in  repeating  it.  A Psalm — 
part  of  the  34th,  was  read  and  explained.  Our 
doctor  and  evangelist  led  in  specially  prepared  pray- 
ers. All  were  quiet  for  a period  of  silent  prayer 
in  which  all  were  requested  to  take  part,  and  we 
closed  by  repeating  two  short  petitions  which  were 
^vritten  and  hung  before  us.” 

PHILIPPINES: 

"The  call  went  round  the  world  and  we,  who  are 
not  far  away,  heard  it,  too,”  writes  a missionary. 


4 


"At  Baguio,  the  summer  capital  of  the  Philippine 
Islands,  there  is  a wonderful  place.  It  is  called 
the  Amphitheatre.  It  is  at  Camp  John  Hay.  Its 
sides  were  hollowed  out  by  Nature’s  hand;  its 
dome  is  heaven’s  blue;  the  eternal  hills  are  all 
around.  One  speaks  in  whispers  and  is  heard  far 
upon  the  topmost  terrace.  General  Bell  declares 
This  place  was  made  by  the  Creator:  we  but  dis- 
covered it.’ 

"And  on  the  Sabbath  of  April  27th,  in  the  late 
afternoon,  there  gathered  here  well  nigh  all  of 
Baguio,  or  at  least  it  so  seemed.  There  were  offi- 
cials, clerks,  teachers,  tourists,  soldiers,  men,  women 
and  many  children;  Burton  Holmes,  the  lecturer, 
was  there;  Americans,  Britishers,  Japanese,  Fili- 
pinos, and  far  up  on  the  highest  terrace  the  sturdy 
little  Igorote  girls  from  the  Bua  School  in  the  pic- 
turesque garments  of  their  people. 

“On  the  platform  were  the  Governor  General,  rep- 
resenting the  Civil  Government  and  speaking  for  it, 
the  Commanding  General  of  the  Army,  representing 
the  Military  and  speaking,  too,  for  them;  several 
clergymen  of  different  denominations,  one  of  whom 
presided  and  two  of  whom  made  addresses,  a fourth 
leading  in  prayer,  the  Chinese  Consul  General  who 
had  come  up  from  Manila  to  represent  his  Govern- 
ment and  behind  him  thirty-five  of  his  countrymen 
from  the  Chinese  colony  of  Baguio. 

"With  perfect  attention  the  audience  received  each 
part,  music,  address  and  prayer.  No  one  could  say 
from  whence  came  the  deep  impression  which  set- 
tled over  all.  Perchance  and  indeed  it  was  in  the 
enfolding  glory  of  God’s  great  world  about  and 
the  quiet  of  God’s  deep  voice  within? 

“There  were  pleas  for  China: — and  there  was  a 
deep  plea  for  prayer.  And  the  sun  went  down  in 
glory,  falling  on  the  hills.  The  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  and  the  little  Igorote  girls  went  home: 
The  Governor  General  and  the  Filipino  house  boy: 
General  Bell  and  the  Chinese  laundryman.  They 
were  all  thinking — each  his  own  thought  and  each  in 
his  own  way.  So  many  said.  ‘Of  all  services  in 
my  memory  that  was  the  most  unique.  When,  where 
or  how  could  it  be  reproduced?’  ’’ 


5 


(i 


Chefoo  Y.  M.  C.  a. — A Social  Gathering 


NINGPO: 

It  is  very  significant  that  the  courts  do  not  try 
cases  on  the  Sabbath.  It  would  almost  seem  as 
though  this  might  grow  into  a legal  recognition  of 
the  Sabbath.  The  government  schools  never  hold 
session  on  the  Sabbath,  and  in  Yu  Yiao  those  who 
have  charge  of  the  new  schools  that  are  being  opened 
tell  their  pupils  that  it  is  perfectly  proper  for  the 
pupils  from  government  schools  to  attend  either 
Christian  or  Buddhist  worship,  but  that  Confucius 
favors  a king  and  is  therefore  not  friendly  to  the 
Republic. 

Forty  Shantung  men  went  to  the  National  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Convention  at  Peking.  300  delegates  ex- 
pected; 450  attended.  President  Yuan  Shi  Kai 
invited  them  to  his  palace;  graciously  received  in 
person;  addressed  them  in  sincere  appreciation  of 
their  work;  sent  some  of  his  higher  officials  to  par- 
ticipate in  their  Convention  program. 

S.  CHINA: 

There  has  been  a return  to  opium  growing  in  the 
districts  north  of  Yu  Yiao  and  it  remains  to  be 
seen  whether  the  stringent  measures  now  being  taken 
to  stop  it  will  be  as  successful  as  were  the  efforts  of 
two  or  three  years  ago.  Fortunately  the  people 
recognize  the  reasonableness  of  the  effort  to  get  rid  of 
the  opium  curse  and  there  is  little  likelihood  of  armed 
resistance  when  the  officers  try  to  enforce  the  law. 

CANTON: 

June  27th,  1913 — To-day  the  city  authorities  are 
tearing  down  idol  shrines  in  public  streets,  and  no 
one  objects. 

CHEFOO: 

Of  the  first  six  men  examined  by  a missionary  on 
an  Itinerating  trip  it  was  noticed  that  four  of  them 
had  their  queues  cut  off,  and  mentioned  this  as  a 
testimony  to  their  desire  to  become  Christians.  A 
strange  way  of  showing  Christianity,  but  in  that 
region  all  who  are  without  queues  are  regarded  as 
Christians  and  also  treated  accordingly,  for  the  people 
have  not  yet  taken  to  the  new  regime.  The  absence 


7 


of  the  queue  is  really  a political  badge  showing  ap- 
proval of  the  new  republic  in  which  our  Christians 
in  China  have  taken  such  a lead. 

THE  EDUCATIONAL  OUTLOOK 

CANTON: 

W.  K.  Chung,  Commissioner  of  Education, 
Kwangtung  Province:  "One  of  the  foundation 

principles  of  China  is,  that  EVERY  CHILD  IS  ENTITLED 
TO  AND  SHALL  RECEIVE  AN  EDUCATION.  How  far  we 
can  carry  out  this  principle  depends  not  only  on  the 
Government  ' t also  on  the  open-minded  and  public 
spirited  citizens  of  the  Republic.  The  Government 
of  Kwangtung  desires  to  be  in  the  forefront  as  re- 
gards education  and  expects  its  enlightened  citizens 
to  help  in  advancing  this  important  matter.” 

Mr.  Chung  is  working  in  this  matter  through  the 
Educational  Association  of  Kwangtung.  He  asks 
that  all  report  blanks  be  fully  made  out  in  order  to 
secure  complete  data.  Linder  the  subject  ‘ morals” 
in  the  Government  curriculum,  the  Bible  may  be 
taught  and  it  may  be  so  stated  in  the  curriculum 
which  each  Mission  school  sends  in.  Mr.  Chung 
requests  that  it  be  inserted  in  the  following  way : 
"Morals — Use  BIBLE  as  Textbook.” 

This  is  required  in  order  to  save  confusion  in  pos- 
sible changes  of  administration.  The  mission  school 
is  thus  fulfilling  the  law  without  compromising  what 
we  all  hold  as  a most  important  principle,  that  of 
religious  freedom. 

TSINGTAU: 

Rev.  C.  E.  Scott:  "Peking  has  an  American 
College  Club,  composed  of  men  of  all  nationalities 
who  have  attended  American  schools.  The  great 
majority  of  the  members  are  Chinese.  At  the  an- 
nual banquet  this  year,  some  250  members  sat  to- 

Note. — Mr.  Chung  recognizes  the  large  place  the 
mission  school  has  taken  in  molding  the  public  senti- 
ment which  is  now  working  out  the  salvation  of 
China.  He  is  anxious  to  help  these  schools  in  every 
way  he  can  in  harmony  with  his  position.  The  first 
step  is  the  recognition  of  the  mission  school  as 
part  of  the  general  educational  system  of  Kwangtung. 


An  Accident  Facilitating  Conveyance — School 
GIRL  Starting  Home  on  Vacation 


9 


gether  and  renewed  their  college  days.  Some  of 
the  highest  officials  of  the  Chinese  Republic  were 
present.  The  organization  numbers  many  of  the  lead- 
ers of  Young  China  among  its  members.  At  this  ban- 
quet, the  principal  speakers  were  Chinese,  high  in 
the  government,  and  they  eloquently,  and,  in  plain 
English,  advocated  a league  between  the  two  Repub- 
lics. The  spirit  of  the  young  Republic  is  their  spirit. 
And  the  spirit  that  is  in  them,  which  they  expounded 
that  evening  in  connection  with  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Convention,  is  the  spirit  that  they  affirm  they  caught 
from  their  Alma  Mater  in  America. 

‘‘America  has  a new  asset  in  China,  to  strengthen 
mutual  understanding,  create  good  will,  foster  friend- 
ship between  the  two  Republics  that  is  without  paral- 
lel. The  other  nations  covet  it,  but  cannot  possess 
it.  It  is  the  Ching  Hua  School  of  Peking,  estab- 
lished by  the  Chinese  Government  in  the  palace 
grounds  of  a defunct  princely  family,  with  the  indem- 
nity money  returned  by  America  to  China, — which 
money  is  being  used  to  prepare  Chinese  young  men 
for  American  colleges.  All  the  teachers  are  Ameri- 
cans, Christians  selected  by  the  American  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  authorities,  except  the  President,  who  is  a Chinese. 
The  opportunity  is  unique,  and  it  is  being  steadily 
and  carefully  and  patiently  improved.  A finer  set  of 
young  Americans  than  the  Faculty,  it  would  be  hard 
to  find.  “ 

TUNGCHOWFU: 

Rev.  J.  P.  Irwin:  “One  poor  old  Christian 
woman  pleaded  with  us  to  take  her  grandson  into 
our  Boys’  Boarding  School,  but  they  were  not  able 
to  provide  for  him  and  pay  the  necessary  part  of 
his  board,  so  it  seemed  best  to  insist  that  he  find 
work  in  some  place,  rather  than  to  enter  school.  The 
boy  was  disappointed  and  so  were  his  father  and  old 
grandmother,  and  we  were  sorry  to  disappoint  them, 
and  yet  we  have  more  really  poor  boys  now  than  we 
can  provide  for.  The  question  is  what  to  do  with  such 
boys.  Most  of  them  are  from  Christian  families,  and 
promise  to  make  good  workers  in  the  future  for  the 
Church.  We  help  all  we  are  able  to  but  some  must 
be  turned  away.  ’ 


10 


SHANTUNG: 

Rev.  J.  a.  Fitch:  ‘Revolutionary  changes  are 
the  order  of  the  day  not  less  in  the  Chinese  educa- 
tional world  than  in  its  world  of  politics.  The  Con- 
fucian  classics,  no  longer  made  sole  text  book  in 
primary  and  middle  schools,  is  one  of  these.  The 
child  is  no  longer  asked  to  commit  tomes  of  classics 
without  understanding  a word.  In  place  of  them, 
graded  pictorial  readers,  filled  with  matter  interesting 
to  a child,  have  been  prepared,  and  he  learns  the 
character  and  its  meaning  at  the  same  time.  Again 
the  new  books  make  teaching  in  classes  possible, 
while  teaching  in  classes  make  larger  schools  pos- 
sible. This  increase  in  efficiency  produces  two  de- 
sirable results.  The  expense  of  the  school  is  spread 
over  a larger  number  of  patrons,  while  at  the  same 
time  the  teacher  receives  a substantial  increase  in 
salary.  Last  January  a teachers’  institute,  of  some 
four  weeks’  duration,  for  instructing  our  country 
teachers  in  new  methods,  was  held  at  the  compound. 
It  IS  too  early  to  have  the  new  methods  fully  under- 
stood and  perfectly  taught,  but  already  the  results 
are  showing  larger  schools,  more  pupils  for  the  same 
number  of  teachers,  more  emulation  in  the  schools 
and  better  grade  of  work  done.  ” 

WEI-HSIEN: 

Rev.  J.  a.  Fitch:  “The  Wei-hsien  College  stu- 
dent has  come  to  love  his  field  day  as  much  as  any 
student  in  America.  But  a field  day  without  an  audi- 
ence is  like  an  oyster  soup  without  oysters.  Hence 
the  Athletic  Committees  got  busy  inviting  the  crowds. 
All  the  new  Government  Schools  in  Wei-hsien  City 
were  invited,  and  23  responded,  including  two  girls 
schools  who  were  the  special  guests  of  our  Wei-hsien 
girl’s  High  School.  The  local  officials,  civil  and 
Military,  came  in  force,  and  also  many  of  the  con- 
servative gentry  of  Wei-hsien  City.  And  strangest 
of  all,  not  a few  carts  occupied  with  their  women 
folk  were  present.  Not  satisfied  with  the  local 
crowds,  invitations  were  sent  to  at  least  two  out- 
side cities,  and  two  schools  from  one  of  these  actu- 
ally came  81  li,  or  27  miles,  having  to  walk  fully 
half  that  distance  before  reaching  the  railway  sta- 


ll 


tion.  These  two  schools  of  about  80  Government 
students  were  the  guests  of  the  college  over  Satur- 
day and  Sunday,  attending  worship  with  our  students 
in  our  Church  at  the  Compound.  It  was  a great 
success  in  the  way  of  a crowd,  for  there  were  fully 
5,000  present.  School  uniforms  were  in  evidence  in 
every  direction  (for  the  New  China  is  going  in  for 
the  military  dress  and  training  of  its  students). 
Trumpet  and  drum  sounded  welcome  to  every  arriv- 
ing school,  to  the  intense  delight  of  the  band-loving 
boy.  But  what  of  the  significance  of  it  all?  It 
means  that  China  is  intensely  awake  all  of  a sudden. 
She  Is  bent  on  learning  all  there  is  to  be  known  about 
Western  Schools  and  Colleges.  This  was  shown 
again  a few  weeks  later,  when  the  annual  debates 
came  off.  Our  College  has  had  training  in  debate 
and  public  speech.  Their  schools  have  not  as  yet. 
And  again  crowds  came  from  the  city  schools,  in- 
cluding the  Hsien  Official  who  was  a Judge.  They 
came  to  see,  to  listen,  and  to  take  note.  It  means 
too  that  the  old  barriers  are  down,  and  a freedom 
of  access  to  them  enjoyed,  that  has  never  been 
known  before.  It  means  that  all  that  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  stands  for  can  have  such  a hearing  now,  as 
it  has  never  before  been  possible  in  China.  It  spells 

GREAT  OPPORTUNITY.”’ 

THE  EVANGELISTIC  OPPORTUNITY 

HWAI  YUEN: 

Rev.  DuBois  S.  Morris:  “There  is  a great 
overturning  of  old  ideas  and  giving  up  of  old  customs 
and  beliefs,  and  we  know  in  many  parts  of  China 
idolatry  is  surely  going.  This  must  mean  that  now 
is  the  supreme  hour  for  the  Christian  Church.  May 
we  have  the  strength  to  go  forward  with  unfaltering 
love  to  open  to  this  people  the  new  Door,  on  the 
threshold  of  which  there  is  no  death, — no,  but  that 
Life  which  China  not  only  needs  but  now  begins  to 
she  needs,  and  which  can  come  only  by  faith 
in  the  Son  of  the  Living  God. 

“Passing  through  a village,  I happened  to  look  up 
at  a Temple  at  the  end  of  a street,  and  there,  fallen 
face  downward,  on  the  threshold,  and  with  out- 


12 


stretched  arms,  as  though  prostrate  and  supplicant 
before  the  idols,  was  the  body  of  a little  beggar  boy, 
— dead.  We  did  not  stop,  but  as  1 traveled  on  I 
could  not  forget  it.  Again  and  again  it  came  back 
to  me, — the  arms  of  that  young  boy  so  piteously  out- 
stretched for  help.  Dead  before  the  idols!  Help- 
less in  the  face  of  those  who  have  no  help  to  give! 
Lifeless  before  the  wood  and  stone  of  the  temple 
god ! ” 

CHEFOO: 

Rev.  W.  O.  Elterich;  ‘ On  a recent  itinerating 
trip  I found  a surprising  lack  of  opposition  to  the 
candidates  for  baptism  on  the  part  of  their  rela- 
tives which  is  found  almost  invariably.  This  is  but 
another  evidence  that  the  country  is  becoming  more 
and  more  leavened  by  Gospel  influence.  The  friend- 
ly attitude  of  the  government  and  of  the  literary 
classes  is  also  helping  to  break  down  prejudice  and 
opposition.  In  fact  the  whole  country  is  ripe  for 
Gospel  effort  as  never  before. 

On  the  other  hand  the  heathen  forces  are  realiz- 
ing this  and  are  exerting  all  kinds  of  efforts,  not  so 
much  to  oppose  Christianity  as  to  preserve  their  own 
sects.  This  in  itself  is  a striking  proof  of  the  power 
Christianity  is  exerting  in  China.  A Confucian  So- 
ciety has  been  started  to  preserve  the  teachings  of 
the  Confucian  classics  as  the  same  are  not  being 
taught  any  more  as  formerly.  Buddhist  and  Taoist 
priests  in  great  numbers  have  been  holding  meetings 
to  consider  how  to  prevent  the  cessation  of  idol 
worship  and  thus  their  competence.  They  propose 
to  open  schools  and  orphanages  in  the  temples  and 
thus  secure  the  friendly  attitude  of  the  officials  and 
the  favor  of  the  people. 

"I  also  heard  of  a spiritualistic  sect  which  was 
organized  last  autumn  and  for  a time  was  very  popu- 
lar. The  devotees  of  this  sect,  both  men  and  women, 
gather  at  night  in  some  room  about  a table  on  which 
incense  is  burnt.  Worship  is  made  and  spirits  are 
called  to  attend,  either  the  spirits  of  departed  ones, 
or  of  the  sages,  Confucius,  etc.  Questions  are  ad- 
dressed and  the  answers  are  supposed  to  be  written 
by  the  spirits  on  the  paper  by  the  suspended  pen. 


13 


Pastor  IIwoa  and  Wife — Chefoo  Field 


14 


This  cull  has  a political  aspect  as  the  question  most 
frequently  asked  of  the  spirits  was  whether  the 
Ching  dynasty  would  be  restored  or  the  new  Re- 
public continue  to  exist.” 

TENGCHOWFU: 

Rev.  W.  F.  Seymour:  ‘ The  closing  day  of  the 
dragon  festival,  or  feast  of  lanterns,  when  the  vari- 
ous dragon  processions  come  from  the  city  and  sur- 
rounding villages,  1 had  the  privilege,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Irwin  and  quite  a number  of  native  pas- 
tors and  church  members,  of  preaching  and  distribut- 
ing tracts  at  Peng  Lai  Koa  Temple,  which  was 
visited  that  day  by  several  thousand  people. 

‘ We  secured  permission  from  the  priests  to  oc- 
cupy a large  hall  in  one  of  the  buildings  as  a 
preaching  place  for  the  men,  while  the  ladies  had  a 
tent  pitched  in  one  corner  of  the  grounds.  In  our 
preaching  hall  we  put  up  quite  a number  of  pictures 
and  scrolls  with  Scripture  texts  from  which  to  preach 
and  for  the  people  to  read.  The  room  was  filled 
many  times  and  the  evangelists  preached  till  they 
were  tired.  Many  tracts  were  distributed,  the  people 
being  very  glad  to  get  them.  Gospels  were  being 
sold  also  in  the  temple  grounds  by  the  Water  City 
Church  members  and  others.  We  were  glad  of  this 
opportunity  for  spreading  the  Gospel,  but  were  made 
sad  when  we  stepped  into  the  temple  in  the  next 
courtyard  and  saw  many  men  and  boys  bowing  or 
kneeling  in  worship  before  the  idol. 

It  was  a pleasure  to  see  a man  receive  the  rite 
of  baptism,  who  is,  so  far  as  I know,  the  first  Mo- 
hammedan to  unite  with  the  church  in  Tengchow. 
He  is  a native  of  Tsingchowfu,  and  came  to  us  as 
a sick  soldier  during  the  Red  Cross  work.  He  was 
very  sick  for  some  time,  and  once  he  went  out  on  the 
street  and  was  so  out  of  his  head  that  he  stayed 
away  over  night.  After  a long  search  he  was  found 
and  brought  back,  and  in  due  course  of  time  became 
well.  Then,  when  workers  were  needed  in  the  hos- 
pital, he  preferred  to  stay  with  us  rather  than  go 
back  into  the  army,  and  stayed  with  us  as  washer- 
man. Since  then  he  has  studied  the  doctrine,’  and 
seems  quite  ready  to  bear  testimony  for  the  Lord.  ” 


15 


HENGCHOW; 

Mrs.  G.  L.  GelwicKS:  "'The  Evangelists’  Train- 
ing School  of  the  Hunan  Mission  has  just  closed  its 
three  months’  session  with  the  largest  attendance  yet 
on  its  records, — twenty-six  being  the  number.  In 
addition  to  their  studies  where  their  chief  text  book 
was  the  Bible,  the  men  were  given  their  regular  ap- 
pointments for  practical  work.  The  two  street 
chapels  of  the  city  were  open  every  evening  for 
preaching  services.  They  were  also  sent  out  two  by 
two  for  a systematic  house-to-house  visitation  of  the 
city,  taking  with  them  copies  of  the  Gospels  and 
Acts  to  sell,  and  tracts  to  be  left  in  each  house.  As 
a result  every  street  and  alley  of  Hengchow  Fu  has 
been  visited,  many  of  them  a second  time.  1 ,900 
copies  of  the  Gospels  were  sold,  and  twice  that  num- 
ber of  tracts  given  away.  It  was  impressed  upon 
the  men  that  the  chief  purpose  was  not  to  sell  books, 
but  to  use  them  as  a tool  in  their  personal  work.  In 
a conference  at  the  close  of  the  work,  when  they 
were  telling  of  some  of  the  rebuffs  they  received, 
one,  who  had  completed  his  course  in  the  school  a 
couple  of  years  ago,  suggested  that  if  before  start- 
ing out  on  such  work  he  prayed  for  a blessing  on 
the  work  and  to  be  kept  from  such  experiences,  he 
found  the  amount  of  friction  greatly  lessened.  His 
suggestion  was  greeted  with  such  a chorus  as  to  indi- 
cate that  this  was  their  practice.” 

ICHOWFU: 

Rev.  Roy  M.  Allison:  “On  our  trip  we  found 
a small  village  of  26  families,  but  34  Christians. 
The  entire  wealth  of  this  village  consists  of  66J/2 
acres  of  land  and  4 oxen.  They  were  already  plan- 
ning to  build  a church.  After  Pastor  Chia  talked 
to  them,  one  man  gave  the  land  valued  at  200,000 
cash  and  with  what  they  had  already  given  109,000 
cash  was  pledged.  This  was  no  small  sum  when 
we  consider  that  1000  cash  is  equivalent  to  three 
days’  work.  Pastor  Chia  says  they  must  double  this 
amount.  This  will  surely  be  giving  out  of  what  Paul 
would  call  their  'deep  poverty.’  ” 


16 


17 


Chinese  Women  Studying  the  Bible  at  Kiungchow 


SHANGHAI: 

Miss  Emma  Silver:  “The  spring  class  for 
women  inquirers  has  closed.  I never  saw  anything 
like  the  ravenous’  hunger  these  women,  young 
and  old,  have  to  learn  the  truth  that  they  expect  to 
make  them  free.  I cannot  comprehend  it  and  asked 
a group  of  a dozen  old  and  young  Why,’  but  could 
get  no  motive  but  the  longing  to  know  the  truth  of 
the  Gospel,  to  be  able  to  sing  the  hymns  and  not 
sit  like  wooden  women  at  the  services  and  also  that 
they  could  tell  what  the  preacher  was  talking  about. 

“I  suggested  that  they  could  not  expect  to  teach 
school  and  earn  anything  with  so  little  knowledge 
as  that  was  what  I had  thought  might  be  the  motive 
in  the  cases  of  some  who  needed  sorely  to  earn 
their  own  living  to  escape  from  unhappy  homes  or 
to  avoid  being  engaged  to  bad  men,  or  rather  being 
kidnapped  to  marry  wicked  men  to  whom  they  had 
been  engaged.  But  to  this  suggestion  they  offered 
an  emphatic  disclaimer  stating  more  decidedly  than 
I should  have  done  that  they  could  not  think  of 
teaching  with  the  little  they  could  get  at  their  age. 
I speak  of  this  to  give  you  a glimpse  of  the  ama^ened 
life  of  women  in  China  to-day  and  to  let  you  feel, 
if  I may,  ihe  wonderful  situation  we  face.  Before 
1 went  home  we  could  never  by  any  means  of  per- 
suasion induce  more  than  twenty  women  to  attend 
a class,  so  what  was  our  surprise  to  have  thirty- 
five  last  fall.  ” 

TSINING: 

Rev.  T.  N.  Thompson:  “The  Chinese  evan- 
gelist is  a wonder  and  always  saves  the  situation. 
They  are,  it  seems  to  me,  the  most  fluent  men  I 
have  ever  met,  and  can  talk  under  any  circumstances. 
No  matter  how  the  children  about  them  shout  and 
scream  the  evangelist  keeps  going  on  and  on.  Some- 
times their  talk  seems  rambling  and  you  think  they 
hit  wide  of  the  mark,  but  you  are  often  surprised 
by  their  apt  illustration,  as  you  are  moved  to  many 
a quiet  smile  on  hearing  some  old  childhood  story 
done  up  in  a new  dress,  and  made  fit  to  be  pre- 
sented to  a Chinese  audience. 


18 


"We  are  getting  into  more  homes  than  ever  be- 
fore. In  the  last  two  weeks  in  the  same  district 
where  1 have  had  so  much  trouble,  1 was  able  to 
visit  in  several  homes.  They  were  willing  to  admit 
us  men,  where  formerly  not  even  the  Bible  Women 
were  permitted  to  enter.  The  women  listened  most 
intently.  Could  the  people  at  home  have  seen  what 
great  need  these  women  have,  just  as  it  appeared  to 
us  out  in  those  village  homes,  I am  sure  they  would 
never  question  the  value  of  the  work  done  in  the 
homes  of  the  villagers  in  this  great  land.  How  can 
you  call  them  homes,  where  there  is  not  a single 
home  comfort  to  be  found!  Not  a flower  in  the 
yard!  Not  a picture  on  the  wall,  and  everywhere 
babies,  dust,  dirt  and  frowzy-headed  women.  But 
they  are  the  homes  of  the  myriads  of  China,  and  it 
is  from  just  such  homes  that  the  church  gets  its 
pastors  and  teachers.” 

WEI-HSIEN: 

Rev.  J.  a.  Fitch:  "Many  Christian  Chinese 
are  saying  that  there  is  now  a large  element  of  in- 
telligent people  in  the  nation  who  are  strongly 
drawn  to  Christianity  as  the  religion  of  the  true  God, 
but  who  are  repelled  by  the  fact  that  it  seems  to 
them  to  be  so  largely  under  foreign  tutelage.  They 
would  ally  themselves  with  it  far  more  freely  if  it 
were  under  complete  Chinese  control.  Moved  by 
this  situation  independent  churches  have  been  formed 
in  Peking,  Tientsin,  Tsinanfu,  and  other  cities.  What 
would  seem  strange  to  home  churches  is  that  much 
of  their  best  support  comes  from  those  still  in  con- 
nection with  the  regular  churches.  Missionaries 
recognizing  in  this  genuine  loyalty  to  Christ,  have 
given  the  movement  their  full  sympathy.  In  Shan- 
tung, two  rich  Christians  have  contributed  $13,000 
(Mex.)  for  the  establishing  of  the  independent 
Church  in  Tsinanfu,  the  capital  of  the  province.  At 
a dinner  of  the  high  officials  of  the  province  they 
announced  their  plan  and  their  own  contribution 
toward  its  realization.  Upon  this  these  high  officials 
gave  a tract  of  20  acres,  Chinese  (about  three  and 
one-third  English),  taxes  free,  in  the  newly  laid  out 
section  of  Tsinanfu,  in  the  general  region  of  the 


19 


Railway  Station.  This  is  another  striking  indication 
of  the  new  attitude  being  evinced  at  the  present 
time  by  many  in  high  places  toward  Christianity. 
Whether  it  will  last  we  cannot  say,  yet  we  can  but 
say  that  these  changes  are  indeed  wonderful. 

‘It  is  the  LORD’S  doings  and  it  is 
marvelous  in  our  eyes.’ 


20 


The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
of  the 

Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A. 
156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 


October,  1913 
Form  2024 


